Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by Reebok. I received these shoes for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Qualities of Good Shoes

Over the past few years, there has been a spike in the importance of what shoes you’re wearing. The shoes on your feet have become a status symbol. Working in a middle school, I see this on a daily basis. “WHAT ARE THOOOOOSE?!” can be heard regularly, referring to what shoes you have on. But this isn’t just a middle school, teenage trend. This spans across all age groups, genders, ethnicities, etc. If you need convincing, hop on Instagram and search for the hastag “shoegame.” Nearly 3 MILLION posts come up with that tag, and I’m sure there are even more with other popular hashtags referring to shoes!

For me, personally, I will admit that I like for my shoes to look good… but COMFORT and QUALITY are the most important factors for me. If I’m lucky, I can find a shoe that has it all! I was fortunate enough to be able to try the Reebok Harmony Road and I am thrilled to be able to work with Reebok on this sponsored campaign! All thoughts and opinions are my own. And I cannot wait to tell you (and show you) how wonderful these new shoes are. Fair warning though, you’ll want to snag a pair of your own ASAP!!

About the Reebok Harmony Road

The Reebok Harmony Road was designed with distance runners in mind. In fact, the Harmony Road is such an impressive shoe that is the winner of Runner’s World 2017 Best Debut Shoe.

AESTHETICS:

First impressions are key; and the Reebok Harmony Road was on point. The second I opened the shoebox, I couldn’t wait to try them on. They look sleek, breathable, and

There are a few color options available on the Reebok website but the charcoal grey shoes with the mint and pink soles are by far my favorite. They look sharp and will match any exercise outfit you wear… not to mention, they have that pop of color on the sole for some extra personality!

COMFORT:

The comfort of these shoes is, hands-down, the BEST part about the Reebok Harmony Roads. First, I have to mention how breathable and lightweight they are. I didn’t feel like I was lugging 5 pound weights on my feet, like I have with other running shoes. Second, the soles of these shoes have a new, innovative cushioning in the soles made from Kooshlan TPU foam. I’ve never felt a running shoe so comfortable. If you’re a distance runner, you know that the sport takes a toll on the foot, ankle, joints, etc. The Harmony soles absorb a lot of the shock from your shoe hitting the pavement.

The biggest takeaway for me, regarding comfort, was the lack of pain I felt throughout my joints and muscles after a long run from wearing these shoes! The sole cushioning is a LIFESAVER (or should I say – joint saver!)!! I have a tendency to overpronate when I run, and these shoes had the perfect amount of cushion and support for that!

SIZE:

The Reebok Harmony Road’s are fairly true to size. They felt slightly longer than my other running shoes, but not enough to make a huge difference. For my next run, I plan on trying a thicker pair of socks to see how that feels! They also weren’t too narrow or too wide for my feet. That is especially important to me because if a shoe is too narrow or too wide, I can’t wear it (let alone for miles and miles of training).

STABILITY:

This shoe features a low cut design; however, that does not impact the overall stability of the shoe. Your ankles have the mobility to move, yet they still feel supported by the overall structure of the shoe itself. They are lightweight but sturdy at the same time.

I discussed the soles of the Reebok Harmony Road in the “Comfort” section. But I want to mention some of the other aspects of the sole that help with stability too. For example, these shoes have a Carbon rubber heelstrike which provides traction. Additionally, these shoes have a high abrasion rubber outsole which is EXTREMELY durable.

Not a long distance runner? Not a problem!

But don’t worry if you are not a long distance runner, you can still see AMAZING benefits from wearing this shoes for other activities. I wore these shoes to the gym for a couple of workout sessions and they worked perfectly! The lightweight and low rise design make them great for gym workouts in addition to running.

This shoe has exceeded all of my expectations. I look forward to training for my 5k, 10k, and next half marathon with the Reebok Harmony Road, as well as continue my strength training workouts in them! To learn more and buy your own, clickhere!

Things To Do With Your Dog

One of my favorite things about having a dog is being able to go on walks and runs with them.

Benefits of Running With Your Dog:

Ally and I both get a lot out of running: I get my daily cardio in, some fresh air after being inside most of the day, and some quality time with my pup; She gets to stretch her overly-energetic legs, see the sights and smell the scents of the outdoors, and she doesn’t have to get left behind at home. Win, win!

In order to keep yourself and your dog happy and healthy for these activities, I created a list of things that I have come across while running with my dog.

So here are my do’s and don’t’s for running with your dog!

Jogging With Your Dog

DO: Talk to your vet before! Your vet will let you know of any red flags. It’s also good for them to know how active your dog is – in case of any health concerns later on down the road!

DON’T: Take a young puppy on a long run. Their bones and joints are still developing! It’s best to wait until your puppy is done growing before taking them on a long-distance run. When Ally was a puppy, I kept our walk/jogs less than 1 mile, and we built up to that gradually!

DO: Stay updated on flea and tick preventative! Being outdoors, especially in the spring, summer, and fall, unwanted pests will leap (literally) at the opportunity to host on your dog… Then you have to deal with them in your house!

DON’T: Let them pull you. This is for your safety as well as your dog’s safety. Also, use a 4-6 ft. leash. This gives them enough space to not trip you, and doesn’t give them too much freedom to get distracted or get in anyone else’s way! Some people say that your dog should never be in front of you… I don’t personally follow this. Ally helps me keep my pace when I want to slow down or stop!

DO: Stay hydrated and take water breaks. You need to stay hydrated for a better run. Your dog can’t sweat like we do, so they need water for hydration and to keep them cooled off.

DON’T: Forget about their sensitive paws! This means… Don’t run on hot pavement or on ice/snow. Your pup doesn’t have sleek Nikes like you do! Their paws are exposed to whatever they are standing on. They can get burned on hot pavement and can sting after running on ice. Also, make sure nothing gets stuck in your dogs paw while on a run! Trapped gravel, dirt clumps, sand, etc. can cause a lot of discomfort for dogs.

DO: Have a plan for #2. Let’s be honest… Sh** happens. All jokes aside, activity and exercise can make a dog’s digestive system move and groove. So make sure you have a waste bag with you! Ally is famous for this.

DON’T: Ignore warning signs. Pay attention to your dog. If they are slowing down, foaming at the mouth, panting extremely hard, coughing, take a break. Let your dog rest and give them water. If Ally gets to this point, I always take the safe route and head home.

DO: HAVE FUN!! This can become special quality time for you and your dog. Whether you’re running around your neighborhood or exploring a new trail, your dog will appreciate that you wanted to bring them along with you. It might take a couple of runs before you and your dog get the hang of things. But practice makes perfect!

Ally is the reason I have discovered some of my favorite running spots in metro Atlanta. That’s why I’m proud to say, “My running partner has 4 paws!”

*Picture: Ally and I after the Atlanta Dog Jog in May 2015

What helpful things would you add to this list for running with your dog? Do you enjoy running with your dog?

Things To Do With Your Dog

One of my favorite things about having a dog is being able to go on walks and runs with them.

Benefits of Running With Your Dog:

Ally and I both get a lot out of running: I get my daily cardio in, some fresh air after being inside most of the day, and some quality time with my pup; She gets to stretch her overly-energetic legs, see the sights and smell the scents of the outdoors, and she doesn’t have to get left behind at home. Win, win!

In order to keep yourself and your dog happy and healthy for these activities, I created a list of things that I have come across while running with my dog.

So here are my do’s and don’t’s for running with your dog!

Hi! Welcome to Cardio, Weights, & Protein Shakes. I’m a 20-something from Atlanta, GA where I work as a certified school counselor and personal trainer. I have a B.S. in Psychology, a B.A. in Sociology, and a M. Ed. in Professional Counseling from the University of Georgia. I started Cardio, Weights, & Protein Shakes in 2015 to share my journey in fitness, health, and life in general.